Amber Davies feared Love Island ruined theatre career

Amber Davies has said she worried that winning Love Island had "ruined any chance" of a career in musical theatre.

The actor, who won the dating show in 2017, said she spent much of the period afterwards anxious about whether she would be able to return to the stage.

Speaking to RTÉ Entertainment ahead of the Dublin run of Legally Blonde The Musical, Davies said she would now approach those early post-Love Island years differently.

"I actually look back and wish I'd enjoyed the few years after a little bit more, because I was anxious," she said.

"I spent a lot of that time being anxious that I’d ruined any chance of having a musical theatre career.

"If I’d have just known that it was going to work out, I wish I’d just enjoyed it a little bit more."

Davies is currently playing Elle Woods in the new touring production of Legally Blonde, a role she said has become more meaningful to her as she has grown older.

The character, played by Reese Witherspoon in the 2001 film, follows a fashion-conscious sorority girl who enrols at Harvard Law School after being underestimated by those around her.

Davies said that, while she was initially drawn to Elle’s confidence and glamour as a child, she now feels closer to the character because of the story’s deeper message.

"I feel more connected to her now than I did growing up," she said.

"I didn’t really understand the message of the story. I was more visually impressed because she was this beautiful woman and intelligent, and she was everything. She could be everything all at once, which women can be.

"But as I’ve grown up and I see how she was underestimated, and I have had a similar route in my career, I actually feel like I can relate to her more than ever."

Davies said she hopes audiences, particularly younger girls, leave the show feeling encouraged by Elle’s journey.

"I want little girls and teenage girls and even women of all ages to come and watch and feel inspired and feel confident and feel motivated," she said.

"And if I can do that in any way, then I’ve done my job."

The actor also said her recent appearance on Strictly Come Dancing helped make her feel more at ease returning to the demands of musical theatre.

"It was one of the best experiences of my life," she said of the BBC competition.

"It was so hard. It was so challenging mentally, physically, character-building in ways that you can’t even possibly imagine.

"I think what it taught me the most is being so uncomfortable in Strictly, with all of the different styles, made me so comfortable as soon as I stepped foot on stage as Elle."

Davies said she is looking forward to returning to the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, describing Irish audiences as "wild" and perfectly suited to a show with as many emotional highs as Legally Blonde.

"They’ll be laughing, they’ll be crying, they’ll be cheering," she said. "At the end of the show, they’ll be on their feet."

Legally Blonde is at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre from 7 July - 18 July